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Wednesday February 21, 2018

Washington News

IRS Suggests Defenses Against Ransomware

The IRS is continuing to warn tax advisers to take protective action against ransomware. This week the IRS published specific steps to avoid becoming victimized by ransomware.

In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals will download malware on your computer. The malware encrypts your files. Because you lose access to all of your files, you are directed to make an electronic payment. If you make the payment, the cybercriminal may give you a key to unlock your files.

In May 2017 there was a worldwide ransomware attack with the name "WannaCry." The malware attacked older versions of Windows software. In one day, the malware locked files on an estimated 230,000 computers worldwide.

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen stated, "Tax professionals face an array of security issues that could threaten their clients and their business. We urge people to take the time to understand these threats and take the steps to protect themselves. Do not just assume your computers and systems are safe."

The IRS published several specific strategies for tax advisers.

Education -- Ensure that all of your employees are aware of the risks of ransomware. They should understand how critical their role is in protecting your data.

Antivirus software -- All of the organization computers should have appropriate software to protect against a virus or malware. The software should be updated each day over the Internet.

Write Access -- Limit the ability to write files to hard drives to those staff who need to save data. Some files may be used by staff with "read-only" permission.

Backups -- Make daily backups of all of your files.

Backup Connection -- Your backup system should not be continuously connected. If it is, the cybercriminal may infect both your computer and the backup system.

Tax Reform Clock Ticking

On August 2 at an Americans for Prosperity Conference in Washington, the Freedom Caucus Chair Mark Meadows (R-NC) discussed the difficult path for tax reform.

Meadows stated, "if we do not have a bill that we are actually debating in September that hopefully gets a vote by October, it will not get to the president's desk by Thanksgiving. And if it does not get to the president's desk by Thanksgiving, it is not going to happen."

Meadows continued by noting that if the reforms are not enacted in 2017 then "those tax reforms do not get realized for another full year. The second thing is running up against the 2018 midterm elections. It is the political reality in those midterm years -- everything starts to slow down."

The basic problem is that a tax bill to stimulate the economy needs to lower rates and permit expensing of new equipment. The initial hope of Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Kevin Brady (R-TX) was to include a border adjustable tax with the bill. At a meeting with leaders of the House, Senate and White House last week there was an agreement to remove the unpopular border adjustable tax. However, this tax was intended to pay for lower rates and expensing of new equipment.

White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short spoke at the Americans for Prosperity event. He suggested Chairman Brady should draft a bill in August and the Senate could conduct hearings in September. The House could pass the tax bill in October. The Senate then could consider and pass the tax bill in November.

Short continues to prefer a 15% corporate rate, but hopes to pass a revenue-neutral bill. He acknowledged that this bill is not likely to have full expensing.

Emphasizing they should be part of the taxwriting process, Democratic senators sent a letter to the Republican leaders and President Trump. They outlined three major principles for tax reform. First, middle-income families must not experience a tax increase. Second, the tax bill should use regular order with committee hearings and debate on the legislation. It should not use the budget reconciliation process. Third, they also oppose any effort to pass a "deficit-neutral" bill that is funded through reducing expenditures.

Editor's Note: it is becoming progressively more difficult each week for Chairman Brady to draft a major tax reform bill. Given the decision to remove the border adjustable tax and retaining that goal to create a revenue-neutral bill, the probable result is much smaller rate reductions. The challenge for Brady is that if the rate reductions are modest, then removing itemized deductions such as state and local taxes will be politically very difficult.

Federal Tax Lien Has Priority Over Executor Expenditures

Decedent Fred Allen Simmons passed away June 6, 2014. A resident of Zionsville, Indiana, he had been married to Deborah Scott. They had one son, Erik Simmons, in 1991 and were divorced in 1998. Surviving spouse Raelinn M Spiekhout is the personal representative. The main estate asset was a home in Zionsville, Indiana. There were nine claims against the estate that totaled $1.8 million.

The claims were from ex-wife Scott, two noteholders, two former employees, and tax liens filed by the State of Indiana and the United States. The IRS lien was $591,406. The state court determined the estate was insolvent with assets of $266,873. It ordered the home sold and distributions made according to the state priority list. The federal tax lien was placed as priority number seven.

The IRS removed the case to federal District Court. The District Court directed the net proceeds of $245,766 from sale of the home be distributed to the IRS. The federal tax lien was made the first priority.

Spiekhout noted that extensive funds have been expended in order to prepare the residence for sale. In addition, Indiana law mandated payments to the executor and attorney for the estate. Magistrate Judge Bookman ruled that the federal lien had priority.

While there were expenditures to prepare the home for sale, these did not change the priority. The applicable law was the Federal Tax Lien Act. Under the provisions of this law, the government lien was prior to the other claims. The court noted that the IRS had discretion to pay Spiekhout for unreimbursed expenditures with proper justification.

The IRS has announced the Applicable Federal Rate (AFR) for August of 2017. The AFR under Section 7520 for the month of August will be 2.4%. The rates for July of 2.2% or June of 2.4% also may be used. The highest AFR is beneficial for charitable deductions of remainder interests. The lowest AFR is best for lead trusts and life estate reserved agreements. With a gift annuity, if the annuitant desires greater tax-free payments the lowest AFR is preferable. During 2017, pooled income funds in existence less than three tax years must use a 1.2% deemed rate of return. Federal rates are available by clicking here.